1. Praise ye the Lord. Hallelujah. Praise Jah. This song is for the assembled people, and they
are all exhorted to join in praise to Jehovah. It is not meet for a few to
praise and the rest to be silent, but all should join. If David were present in
churches where quartets and choirs carry on all the singing, he would turn to
the congregation and say, Praise ye the Lord.
Our meditation dwells upon human sin; but on all occasions and in all
occupations it is seasonable and profitable to praise the Lord. O givethanks unto the Lord; for he is good. To us needy creatures the goodness of God is the first attribute
which excites praise, and that praise takes the form of gratitude. For his mercy endureth for ever. Goodness towards sinners assumes the form of
mercy; mercy should therefore be a leading note in our song. Since people cease
not to be sinful, it is a great blessing that Jehovah ceases not to be
merciful. From age to age the Lord deals graciously with his church, and to
every individual in it is he is constant and faithful in his grace forevermore.
In a short space we have here two arguments for praise, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. These two arguments are themselves praises.
The very best language of adoration is that which adoringly in the plainest
words sets forth the simple truth with regard to our great Lord. No rhetorical
flourishes or poetical hyperboles are needed; the bare facts are sublime
poetry, and the narration of them with reverence is the sense of adoration.
This first verse is the text of all that which follows; we are now to see how
from generation to generation the mercy of God endured to his chosen people.
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